ALTERNATIVE REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINTATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION (CERD) ON VIOLATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF RACIAL DISCRIMIANTION BY AZERBAIJAN
This joint report is submitted to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by Protection of Rights without Borders NGO, Open Society Foundations – Armenia, Transparency International Anticorruption Center, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly -Vanadzor, and Law Development and Protection Foundation non-profit organizations which aim to promote human rights, rule of law and good governance in Armenia.
The Organizations aim at promotion and protection of human rights of Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and conducted fact-finding mission documenting violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed during the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as documenting antiArmenian state policy of Azerbaijan and developing comprehensive reports on Human Rights Violations during the 44-Day War in Artsakh1 and Anti-Armenian Xenophobia and Racism in Azerbaijan․
«The state policy of Armenophobia, hate speech by high-rank Azerbaijani officials against Armenians, state-run propaganda of de-Armenization of Armenian cultural and religious heritage, destruction of cultural and historic Armenian sites, absolute impunity for ethnically-motivated hate crimes against Armenians, including beheading while alive, and torture, result in the growing number of hate crimes against Armenians and heinous incidents during and after the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh».
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The above-presented examples and events demonstrate that there is a state policy of ethnic hatred and discrimination against ethnic Armenians in Azerbaijan which has not been eliminated following the publication of the Concluding Observations of 2016, but has, unfortunately, exacerbated especially in the context Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and aftermath the war of 2020.
The Civil Society Organizations recommend the Committee to urge the Government of Azerbaijan To put an end of the inflammatory language, especially by high-rank officials and in public domain, including the President Aliyev. To condemn and investigate the statements by politicians, including high-rank officials, that incite racial hatred against Armenians and to prosecute those responsible.
To put an end to the impunity for the hate crimes against Armenians. To investigate the instances of hate crimes committed against Armenians, including people fallen under the control of Azerbaijan in the context of the armed conflict and prosecute those responsible.
To take immediate and effective measures to eliminate the state policy of racial discrimination and hatred against Armenians and to promote tolerance and to combat existing stereotypes and prejudices against Armenians.
To ensure respect and effective protection to the Armenian cultural and historical heritage on the territories under the control of Azerbaijan.
